In the world of filmmaking, having the right tools can make all the difference. Introducing the the Laowa S35 Ranger cine zooms, the latest offering from Venus Optics that seeks to revolutionize the way filmmakers capture their vision. With a focus on versatility, portability, and performance, these lenses are poised to become helpful additions to any filmmaker’s arsenal. Let’s take a look into what makes these lenses stand out.
Lens Features
The Laowa S35 Ranger cine zoom series is comprised of three lenses, each boasting a maximum aperture of T2.9. Ranging from 11-18mm, 17-50mm, to 50-130mm, these lenses offer a comprehensive focal length range suitable for various shooting scenarios. What sets these lenses apart is their promise of high image quality and minimal focus breathing, ensuring that filmmakers can achieve cinematic results without compromise.
They also highlight decent close focus distances from 14in/13in/30in. The S35 Rangers also feature a parfocal design to ensure your focus stays locked as you move through the zoom range. This is an important feature to have in zooms that we feel are going to be used heavily in run-n-gun productions.
Size and Handling
Portability is a crucial factor for filmmakers these days. The more compact it is the better. The Laowa S35 Ranger zooms excel in this aspect, thanks to their lightweight construction. Coming in both standard and “Lite” versions, these lenses weigh under 775 grams, making them easy to handle and transport. The “Lite” variants, in particular, feature a magnesium alloy construction, further reducing weight without compromising performance. We will note that the optical design is the same between both versions, the only differences are in the construction of the housings.
Being compact should not be at the cost of usability. They both have to marry together to offer a seamless work experience while out in the field or in the studio. The S35 Rangers do well to pack unified gear positioning, filter diameters, imperial/metric marking, and swappable mounts into such tiny housings to ensure efficiency when swapping between them.
Price and Availability
What’s surprising is that the Laowa S35 Ranger cine zoom lenses can offer this much versatility while remaining affordable, catering to both indie filmmakers and professionals alike. Priced at $2,000 each, these lenses offer significant value for their quality and performance. For those looking to invest in a complete set, the three-lens bundle is available for $5,700 (or $1,999 per lens) for the normal zooms and $7,200 (or $2,499 per lens) for the lite versions, providing filmmakers with a versatile toolkit for their projects. Additionally, optional interchangeable mounts are available, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of camera systems.
The Laowa S35 Ranger cine zoom lenses represent a leap forward in technology. Only a few years ago, there were no options that offered what these lenses can for such an affordable price. With their versatile focal lengths, lightweight design, and affordable pricing, these lenses should definitely be on your radar. Come check them out for yourself.